James t



Patented Aug. 9,l |898.

J. T. HOUSE.

(No Model.)

niiin raras n'rnfr rriic."

JAMES T. HOUSE, OF TALALA, INDIAN TERRITORY.

STIRRU P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 608,605, dated August 9,1898. Application tiled Augnst, 189'?.` ASerial 'No.646,909r (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern.' v Y I Beitknown that I, J AMES 'F.llousn, of Talala, Indian Territory, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stirrups, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawin gs,for1nin g a part thereof.

My invention relates to stirrups, and more particularly is designed for use in connection with wild, unbroken, or kicking horses.

The object of the invention is to produce a swiveled stirrup whereby "the rider when standing at the head of the animal and facing to the rear may place his near foot securely in the stirrup and then as he vaults into the saddle cause the stirrnp to swing half-way around and assume its proper position for riding.

A further object of the invention is to prof duce a swiveled stirrup which is positive and reliable in action and simple, strong, durable, and cheap of construction.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents in perspective a stirrup embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents, on a smaller scale, ahorizontal section of the same and also shows the lower member of the stirrup in one position it assumes when rotating from the position it occupies in Fig. 1-viz., the position for mounting-to the position it occupies in Figs. 3 and l-'viz., the position for riding. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of the upper portion of the stirrup. Fig. t represents a full-sized plan View of a part of the upper portion of the stirrup. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of the pivot or swivel pin.

My improved sti rrup comprises, essentially, a lower and an upper portion or member swiveled together. f

The lower portion or member comprises a stirrup or foot-guard proper, l, and a top piece 2, riveted to and connecting the upper ends ofthe stirrup proper or foot-guard, and

said top piece is provided centrally with a recn tangular opening 4f.

The upper member of the stirrup comprises the U-shaped bracket 5, provided with a cir cular centrally-located opening 6, preferably equal to or exceeding the size of the opening 4, and a circular recess 7, concentrieally sur rounding the opening G, so as to form a horizon tal shoulder 8. A pin 9, riveted or swaged at its ends, connects the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped bracket 5, and j ournaled upon said pin is a roller 10, adapted for engagement with the stirrup strap. (Not shown.) In practice the bracket 5 rests upon the crosspiece 2 with the opening 6 in alinement with the opening 4, and such position is maintained by means of a swivel or pivot pin. This pin comprises the rectangular stem 1l, a circular neck 12, anda circular head 13, of greater diameter than the neck, said head, however, being eut away, so as to form the abrupt shoulders le and 15 almost diametrically opposite each other, but not quite. This pin is arranged so that the rectangular stem 11 engages the rectangular opening 4, the neck 12 engages the opening 6, and the head 13 oecupies the recess 7 and rests upon the shoulder 8. The lower end of the stem is then upset or swaged, so that the lower and upper members of the stirrup shall be permanently united.

By this construction and arrangement it will be obvious that the stirrup may be rotated completely around, and in order to pren vent any more than a half-revolution being made the pin 1G projects fromthe bracket 5 i into the recess 7, so as to be struck alternately and at opposite sides by the shoulders la and 15 of the swivel or pivot pin, the arrangement being such that when the stirrup is in the position for riding the shoulder 14 engages the pin, as illustrated in Fig. e, and when in posi.

tion for mounting a dangerous animal the shoulder 15 engages the pin, as shown in Fig. 1.

As well known, stockmen are compelled to ride all kinds of horses, most of them at least half wild. It is dangerous to attempt to mount these animals from the side or from the rear, owing to their kickingtendeneies, andas a consequence a cautious rider almost invariably mounts from the horses head, where he can keep a lirm grip upon him until the inu IOO stant he leaps to the saddle. This, of course, is very difficult with the ordinary stirrups, as they do not readily admit of the reversal of the stirrup and also are liable to fail to swing back to their original position properly as the rider attempts to mount, and consequently it is dangerous to attempt to mount a vicious or unbroken animal from the only really safe place with such stirrups.

If an animal of the type described be provided with a stirrup embodying my invention, the rider first grasps it and rotates it half around until the shoulder l5 strikes against' the pin 1G, as shown in Fig. l. He then, without moving from the horses head, places his left foot (according to Fig. l) in the stirrup and vaults to his seat in the saddle. As he swings to positionv the stirrup rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2, until the shoulder lll strikes the pin 1G, as illustrated in Fig. 1l, the stirrup having completed just a half-revolution. l/Vhen dismounting, the stirrup will swing in the opposite direction enough to accommodate the position of the riders foot, so that he may easily withdraw it, and in case he falls from the saddle there will be little danger of his being dragged along the ground, owing to the fact that the twisting movelnent of his foot due to his fall Will cause a corresponding movement of the stirrup and will be easily disengaged therefrom for that reason.

From the above description it will be apparent that l have produced a stirrup which embodies the features of advantage enumerated in the statement of invention, and it is to be understood, of course, that changes in the form, proportion, or arrangement of parts may be resorted to which do not involve a departure from the principle of construction involved. The stirrup preferably will be made of wrought metal, but may be made of any othersuitable material or combinations of material.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A stirrup, comprising the lower or footreceiving member, provided with a rigid stoppin, and an upper member to which the stirrup-strap is attached, swiveled or pivoted to the lower member, and provided with a semicircular slot or recess engaging said pin, and extending concentrically around the swivel or pivotal point, to permit the lower member to rotate freely in a horizontal plane until said stop-pin reaches one end or the other of said slot, substantially as described.

2. A stirrup, comprising a lower member, to receive the riders foot, a pin carried thereby and provided with a cylindrical neck and a circular head having shoulders let l5, an upper member provided with a circular hole embracing the neck of the pin, and a recess embracing the head of said pin, and a rigid pin 1G, projecting into said recess and limiting the rotatable movement of the lower' member by contact with shoulder la or 15 of the head of the pivot or swivel pin; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. HOUSE.

XVitn esses:

R. L. FARRAR, J. A. WILLIAMS. 

